Young biker’s Ben Nevis descent for hospital that helped treat him
Ten-year-old Xavier Watts will be attempting to become the youngest person to climb and then descend Ben Nevis on a mountain bike, all in aid of the hospital which cared for him as an infant.
The youngsters will tackle over 4,000ft of vertical descent, steep and rocky terrain and icy conditions for the unique and adrenalinebusting mountain bike adventure.
The money raised will be donated to Southampton Children’s Hospital, where Xavier was treated for a serious and potentially lifethreatening kidney disease at just a year old.
His dad Sam Watts said: “Now that 2022 is here, both Xavier and I are incredibly excited to kick off the planning, training and fundraising for our world record attempt on Ben Nevis this May. Xavier is an incredibly
competent mountain biker who rides black grade downhill trails on a weekly basis.
“We have also completed similar adventures on higher mountains in the French Alps so we are confident that we have the experience to safely complete this challenge.”
The West Wittering Parochial School pupil’s ‘obsession’ with mountainbiking developed at a young age, with him learning to ride a pedal bike before he had even turned two years old.
Mr Watts said: “It’s lucky that he’s found a passion so early on.”
However, beyond the excitement of completing the adventure, there is a deeper motivation for undertaking it as Mr Watts credits the care at Southampton Children’s Hospital Charity for Xavier’s recovery.
Many patients in the ward were not so lucky and two children with the same condition died while Xavier was in hospital.
Mr Watts said: “Ten years later, both Xavier and I are committed to undertaking a challenge and a fundraising campaign that can help us, in some small way, to say thank you to the amazing staff at Southampton Children’s Hospital who were so instrumental in Xavier’s recovery.”
The money raised will be used to provide more clinical support at the hospital, as well as ipads, games and craft supplies to keep the children occupied while waiting for treatment. To find out more and to donate, visit: www.1lifeadventures. com